The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-01-19

bTaQdDdn, tle ECOnteeIOr, was AT SdtQ
Senator and is now entitled 10 the same and that
he now be sworn into said Office as Senator from
the counties of Jackson and Lawrence.
Resolved, That this report be spread at full
length on the journals OF the Senate.
LEON o. BAILEY,
Chairman Committee on Elections-
T. NJ HOWARD,
F. NJ. GRIFFITH.
Accompanying the report are exhibits
giving the testimony in full.
After the reading of the report and the
exhibits, Senator Bailey said that, as life
was short and time was heeting, he would
move the previous question.
Senator Dresser said he wished that no
action be taken on the report until the re-
pert of the minority could be submitted.
They had not finished taking evidence until
lust fifteen minutes before that time.
Senator Bailey retorted that it was known
in the committee that this report would be
submitted and acted upon. The committee
had important business to attend to and did
not want to keep witnesses waiting.
Senator Johnson wanted to know how they
could judge the case until both sides were
presented.
Senator Dresser said he had understood
that the majority report would not be acted
on then-that it would lie over till to-mor-
row.
Senator Bailey was against any postpone
ment, The testimony taken by the minority
was to show not that Mcdonald was inno-
cent but Branaman who had not been &C.
cused at all, was guilty.
Senator Winter asked whether the WIT
nesses were not men whose regulations for
truth and veracity were bad, and that several
of them were really engaged in purchasing
votes.
Senator Bailey replied that he would say
mo" to the general question. Mcdonald
had not denied having given money for
votes.
Senator Winter asked what the chairman
supposed he was granting when he said the
minority WAS to be submitted.
The President interrupted the discussion
and said the question was whether the SEN
ate seconded the demand for the previous
question.
Senator Campbell claimed that it was not
a majority report inasmuch as it was signed
but by three, when the committee was com
posed of seven.
The President decided that as two Of the
members were paired 1T was a msloritY. And
the vote was taken on seconding the demand
for the previous question.
Senator Barrett explained his vote in the
negative by saying that he thought a reason
able time should be afforded to allow the
minority to make report.
Senator Urmston also believed that the
minority should be heard, and voted no"
Senator Howard, of st. Joseph, also voted
mo" The voted resulted-yeas, q; nays 81.
Senator Campbell moved q division of the
question. which was agreed to.
The first ballot was on the expulsion OF the
Senator from Jackson and Lawrence Coun-
ties.
Senator Barrett said he had voted mo" on
secoBding the previous question, as he
thought the Senator ought to be heard in his
own behalf, but as he had not seized the OPP
portuDity, he voted "aye." Other Demo-
cratic Senators who had voted mo" on the
first ballot now voted AYE"
Senator Kennedy asked to be excused as
there was similar case pending against him,
but objection was made, and he had to -Tote.
Senator Mcdonald, the contestor, said
This here bill has all been manufactured.
] never approached these men. don't wish
to vote in this matter, but think the re-
port on my side ought to be heard"
The vote stood-yeas, %; nays, 16.
On the question of seating Frank Brana-
man Senator Davis said ii was unfair to un-
seat man and seat another on mere rumor.
Senator Sellers claimed that when the fact
of his having bribed voters was notorious in
his district it was sufficient to expel him.
Senator Winter said that mere rumor had
never been accepted by any court. There
was more evidence against Branaman than
there was against his competitor.
The vote was 20 yeas to 16 nays-s strict
party vote.
The President asked the contestee TO step
forward, and he was sworn in due form.
Senator Winter said he wished to enter a
protest against the whole proceedings which
be would submit in writing in the morning.
Senator Bailey then made q motion that
the vote adopting the report as a whole be
considered, and that that motion be laid
upon the table which was carried.
Senator Howard, of Shelby, offered the
following resolution:
Whereas, This Senate, without questioning or
criticsing theprerogatlye of the House, views with
Cornelius Meagher, of VigO County; and
Whereas, The persistent endeavor to alter rep
resentatlve complexion ID either heuse Dy the
extravagant and extraordinary exercise OF pre-
rcgAtive is always to be regarded as an element
Of great public danger; and
Whereas, The Senate, on account OF the great
need of legislation to promote the interests OF the
benevolent and othersinst1tutions OF the State. is
animation of either house; therefore, be il
Resolved, That conference committee be ap-
pointed, to consist of five members from the
whose duty ii shall be to confer together and, IL
possible, agree upon and report back to each
branch OF this General Assembly some method OF
procedure by which to assure careful and proper
consideration for the matters recited in the fore
going preamble, and such determination as the
demands thereof NAV seem to REQUIRE,
Senator Winter raised the point of order
that each house was the sole Judge of the
qualifications OF its members.
Senator Bailey said the resolution did not
conflict with the Constitution.
Senator Dresser wanted to do something
else beside seating and unseating members,
and would vote aye.
Senator Mcdonald thought the resolution
proper. The action in the Meagher case
overturned the will of the people. This
would set it right sgain.
Senator Johnson said he had heard nothing
of the voice of the 1000 people who made
up Robertson's majority.
The President-You heard of it to-day, in
the Circuit Court, did you not2
The resolution was adopted-yeas, 20; nays,
16.